Coocorrência de Trabalho Infantil e Bullying entre adolescentes escolares em Manaus, Amazonas

Abstract

This study investigated the co-occurrence of child labor and bullying among school adolescents in Manaus, Amazonas, understanding it as an adverse experience during adolescence and its

potential impacts on psychosocial development. This is a quantitative, cross-sectional, school- based study conducted with adolescents aged 12 to 17 years, selected through stratified sampling

proportional to the administrative zones of the city. Data collection was carried out in two stages (2023 and 2024) using standardized questionnaires administered by a trained team, in accordance with ethical principles for research involving human subjects. Data analyses were performed using the Jamovi software, including descriptive, and bivariate procedures, with estimation of prevalence ratios (PR) and respective 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). The prevalence of bullying was 60.3% and that of child labor was 41.7%, with a co-occurrence rate of 27.4% among adolescents. The simultaneity of these experiences was more frequent among adolescents aged 16 to 17 years and those living in socially vulnerable urban areas of the municipality. In the bivariate analysis, the main associated factors were older age (PR=5.42), drug use (PR=4.82), grade repetition (PR=1.99), and school expulsion (PR=1.71), in addition to sociofamilial factors such as low educational level of the guardian (PR=2.88) and living with individuals who use alcohol or drugs (PR=2.39). The co-occurrence was also strongly associated with other adverse experiences, particularly collective violence (PR=3.09), emotional abuse (PR=3.00), emotional neglect (PR=2.71), and sexual abuse (PR=2.48). It is concluded that child labor and bullying are interrelated phenomena embedded in contexts of multiple social and family vulnerabilities. These findings reinforce the need for intersectoral prevention and protection strategies integrating actions in education, health, and social assistance, considering the individual, family, and territorial determinants involved.